Automatic ignition cut-off



Oct. 28, 1958 F. R. HINTON AUTOMATIC IGNITION CUT-OFF Filed June 5, 1957Frank R. Hinton INVENTOR.

United States. Patent AUTOMATIC IGNITION CUT-OFF Frank R. Hinton,Cleburne, Tex.

Application June 5, 1957, Serial No. 663,635

Claims. (Cl. 200-6152) The present invention relates generally to motorvehicles such as automobiles, tractors, etc., and has for its primaryobject to provide novel weight operated means for automatically openingthe ignition circuit of the engine in the event the vehicle shouldoverturn.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide anautomatic ignition cut-off of the character described which may beexpeditiously installed for operation on the vehicle.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an automatic ignitioncut-off of the character set forth which will be of comparatively simpleconstruction, durable, compact, highly efficient and reliable inoperation and which may be produced at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing an automatic ignition cut-offembodying the present invention installed; and

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the deviceper se.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that referencecharacter 3 designates a portion of the usual internal combustion engineof a motor vehicle 4. The ignition system of the engine 3 comprises acoil 5 to which a conductor wire 6 is detachably connected.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustratedcomprises an arcuate tube 7 of suitable material which is secured byclamps or straps 8 on the fire Wall or dash 9 of the motor vehicle 4.The upturned ends of the arcuate tube 7 are provided with closures 10which are hingedly mounted on said tube, as indicated at 11. Theconstruction and arrangement, it will be observed is such that theelements 10 close by gravity on the ends of the tube 7. At its lowestpoint the arcuate tube 7 has formed therein a circular opening 12providing a seat for the reception of a weight in the form of a metallicball 13. Of course, the spherical weight 13 is operable in the tube 7.

Fixed beneath the tube 7 at an intermediate point and communicatingtherewith through the opening 12 is a chamber 14. Depending from thechamber 14 and communicating therewith is a tubular guide or housing 15of copper or other suitable material. It will be noted that the tubularguide or housing 15 extends to a point adjacent the coil 5 and, in theinstallation shown, the free end of said guide or housing is secured, asat 16, to the engine 3.

The chamber 14 is for the reception of a chain 17 having one endswivelly connected to the weight 13. The other end of the chain 17 isconnected to a resilient wire or rod 13 which passes slidably throughthe tubular I 2,858,391 Patented Oct. 28, 1958 guide or housing 15 andhas its other end connected to the coil wire 6, as at 19.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readilyapparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the sphericalmetallic weight 13 normally reposes by gravity in the opening or seat 12in the arcuate tube 7. However, should the vehicle 4 lean dangerously oroverturn, the spherical weight 13 leaves the opening or seat 12 androlls by gravity toward the lower end of the tube 7 and drops from saidtube until all of the chain 17 has been payed out. When this occurs thefall of the spherical weight 13 is arrested and the resulting jerk yanksthe wire 6 out of the coil 5 for opening the ignition circuit andinstantly stopping the engine 3. Clamps 20 secure'the chain chamber 14to the arcuate tube 7.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An automatic ignition cut-01f for motor vehicles comprising: anarcuate tube having an opening in its lowermost portion, a sphericalweight operable by gravity in the tube and engageable in the opening,and means connecting said weight to the ignition coil wire of the motorof the vehicle for disconnecting said wire from the coil should saidvehicle overturn.

2. An automatic ignition cut-off for motor vehicles comprising: anarcuate tube having an opening in its lowermost portion, a sphericalweight operable by gravity in the tube and engageable in the opening,and means connecting said weight to the ignition coil wire of the motorof the vehicle for disconnecting said wire from the coil should saidvehicle overturn, said means including a chain having one end connectedto the weight, and a resilient rod having one end connected to the otherend of the chain and its other end connected to the coil wire.

3. An automatic ignition cut-oft for motor vehicles comprising: anarcuate tube having an opening in its lowermost portion, a sphericalweight operable by gravity in the tube and engageable in the opening,and means connecting said weight to the ignition coil Wire of the motorof the vehicle for disconnecting said wire from the coil should saidvehicle overturn, said means including a chamber mounted on the tube andcommunicating therewith through the opening, a tubular guide connectedto said chamber, a resilient wire slidable in the guide and having oneendconnected to the coil wire, and a chain in the chamber having one endconnected to the wire and its other end connected to the weight foroperatively connecting said weight to the coil wire for disconnectingsame from the coil.

4. An automatic ignition cut-off for motor vehicles comprising: anarcuate tube mounted on the vehicle and having a circular openingtherein at its lowest point, gravity closed closures hingedly mounted onthe end portions of said tube, a spherical weight operable by gravity inthe tube and engageable by gravity in the opening, a chamber mountedbeneath the tube and communicating therewith through the opening, atubular guide connected to the chamber, a chain in the chamber havingone end connected to the spherical weight, and a resilient wire operablein the tubular guide and having one end connected to the other end ofthe chain and its other end connected to the ignition coil wire of themotor of the vehicle for 3 4 disconnecting said wire from the coilshould said vehicle ignition circuit to open said circuit in response toprojecoverturn. tion of the weight out of said, lowermost end of the 5.An automatic cut-off for the ignition circuit of a tube. motor vehiclecomprising: an arcuate tube having upturnedzends'and mounted on thevehicle for'tilting to dis- 5 References Cited In the file of thlspatent pose either end lowermost by overturning of the vehicle, UNITEDSTATES PATENTS a; gravityactuated-weight: in said tube projectable outof the end of the tube-disposed lowermost by tilting .of the 2,253,957Kammerdmer 1941 tube, and meansoperatively connecting-theweight to the2,708,226 Dixon May 10, 1955

